The inventions they come up with nowadays to make a parent’s life easier never cease to amaze me. I’ve previously noticed toddlers at the airports having the time of their life using a ride-on suitcase but I could never imagine the variety of suitcases I would find when I started looking for one for my toddler.
The obvious purpose of a suitcase is to carry your personal belongings during travel from one place to another.
However, travelling with a suitcase per person, the math doesn’t add up as two hands are less than your suitcase plus your toddler plus your toddler’s carry-on. This is where the brilliant suitcase inventions come in handy.
The innovative toddler-friendly suitcases include:
- Ride-on suitcase that you can pull together with your toddler sitting on top of it. If they feel like it, they can use their little legs to push and ride across a train station or an airport. There are multiple ride-ons available but my favourites that you’ll find more written about later on are Samsonite Dream Rider, Samsonite DreamRider Deluxe, and the British Trunki Ride On.
- Scooter suitcase, which is self-explanatory, a suitcase with a scooter attached to it. Once the toddler is tired, you can clip the scooter plate to the suitcase and pull it like luggage. The most optimal choice for a scooter suitcase, in my opinion, is Flyte 15″ Mini Scooter Suitcase suitable specifically for toddlers.
- And the brilliant two-in-one ride-on/bed suitcase works both as a ride-on suitcase and includes a mattress inside so your toddler can comfortably sleep on a chair in any vehicle (plane, train, car, etc.). My personal pick is the one and only BedBox by JetKids.
Which suitcase will suit your toddler best?
Because you’re not buying a regular suitcase that only you’d be able to pull, merely adding extra weight in your hands, you need to consider what mode of suitcase alternative will be the most fun for your toddler. Meeting your toddler’s abilities and needs will actually make travelling easier for you.
Imagine, instead of pulling a suitcase and catching your toddler’s hand, your toddler can have the time of their life riding on their suitcase or scooter/suitcase as you walk next to them. All you need to do to achieve this fantasy is observe what your toddler enjoys most and ask yourself questions like:
Is your toddler an extreme fan of scooters?
Do they like to explore the world on their balance bikes? Or…
Is sleep essential to your toddler’s good mood, which is why it’s frustrating when they can’t fall asleep while travelling and they keep on bugging you with their little feet?
Below, you will find detailed descriptions of the best 2023 travel suitcases for toddlers that I’ve researched and tested. At the end of the article, you will also find a specification comparison table to make your decision even easier.
But before diving into the list, here are some things you should look out for and prioritise while looking for a toddler’s travel suitcase:
Age range/weight capacity is relevant especially if you have several kiddos, which means, you could use the same suitcase for when they are at different ages. The age range of the suitcase is also important if you want to get a more robust product to last longer so your toddler must not outgrow the suitcase before it’s worn out.
Durability is a no-brainer when we all have come across a suitcase that doesn’t hold the pressure of its first journey because of a heavy-handed airport security guard or a tragic fall down the escalator.
Volume Capacity is worth considering if you frequently have a limited amount of luggage allowance while travelling, so if you can stuff the extra diapers or some tshirts into your toddler’s suitcase, that’s a bonus.
Carry-on availability is possible with most toddler suitcases, however, not in 100% of cases, so it’s worth checking which airlines accept the suitcase that you’re aiming for as a carry-on.
The design may sound superficial but if having a police car or a tiger to ride on will encourage your toddler to stay on the suitcase for longer then that’s an advantage for you.
Extra features like a footrest, an integrated mattress, or an adjustable strap will definitely make a toddler suitcase stand out from its competitors.
Now that you’re ready to discover the cutest, fun, and most useful suitcase for your family, here we go onto the list, starting off with my personal favourite:
1. BedBox by JetKids (20L)
Could you have ever imagined that there will be a suitcase that is also a bed for your toddler? I know, BedBox by JetKids sounds like a gadget made by a kid inventor, but it’s real!
Perfect for frequent fliers, BedBox is a ride-on suitcase that transforms into a bed in 5 simple steps. Once the seat belt sign is off on the plane or any other transportation like train or ferry, you can unfold the mattress and your toddler or even a baby can wander off into the dreamland.
The bed feature is officially approved by many airlines.
Amazingly enough, the bed/suitcase is also a ride-on. Suitable for toddlers from around 2 years of age, BedBox can be pulled through the airport, train or ferry terminal and when your toddler is tired, the same multi-purpose strap to pull the suitcase can be used to carry it. There is a top handle for your toddler to hold while riding or being pulled.
For extra fun, your toddler can personalise their BedBox, which comes in 6 colours, with included stickers.
Pros & Cons of BedBox by JetKids ride-on suitcase
| PROS | CONS |
| Carry-on dimensions, fits in front or overhead compartments | The wheels don’t have a break for the case not to roll while standing |
| Perfect for long-flights | Pulling strap doesn’t offer control over the case and gets dirty every time it falls on the ground |
| Practical top-opening to prevent items from falling out | Not a lot of space with the mattress taking up the rest of it in the case |
| Shock absorbing front swivel wheels for excellent manoeuvring | |
| Multi-purpose adjustable strap for carrying or pulling the BedBox | |
| Tired feet can rest on the comfortable foot ledge | |
| Universal and fits most standard economy seats in aircrafts |
2. Flyte 15″ Mini Scooter Suitcase (21L)
Another one of amazing inventions for kids is a suitcase that is also a scooter. Flyte Mini Scooter Suitcase has a built-in scooter so your toddler will actually push their own carry bag.
As the scooter plate locks into the back of the suitcase, Flyte Mini Scooter Suitcase can be brought as your kid’s carry-on and fit into overhead cabin lockers. The locked-in scooter handlebar is also used to pull the suitcase when your toddler is tired.
Suitable for toddlers from the age they can scoot on their own (up to 20 kg), Flyte Mini Scooter suitcase has a stable steering system for safety that keeps them from falling.
Flyte Mini Scooter Suitcase has one large compartment for storing and a small internal pocket. This Mini Scooter suitcase is of great use even when you’re not travelling like when you’re bringing your toddler to the shops or their first sleepover.
Pros & Cons of Flyte Mini Scooter Suitcase
| PROS | CONS |
| Keeps the toddler occupied | Narrow age/weight range |
| Toddler pushes their suitcase | Toddler can often get tired |
| Multi-use handlebar for a scooter and to pull a suitcase | Small volume capacity |
| Return within 365 days | Doesn’t fit under the seat on a plane |
| Turning takes practice |
3. Samsonite Dream Rider (28L)
Samsonite Dream Rider includes a fun animal collection to keep your toddler more entertained while travelling. As you’re pulling them by the removable shoulder strap, your little one can imagine that they’re riding a zebra, a tiger, and other animals.
As Samsonite has designed it, there’s no surprise Dream Rider has the delicate features of a regular suitcase like a cross ribbon that keeps everything inside intact. The luggage also has two handles for the toddler to hold on to.
Samsonite Dream Rider provides a seat for the toddler while queuing and can be on board 32 different airlines (see full list on their website).
Pros & Cons of Samsonite Dream Rider (28L)
| PROS | CONS |
| Large volume capacity | Wheels often jam |
| Sturdy design & has a lock | |
| Can be taken on board to most airlines | |
| Cabin size | |
| 5 cool animal designs |
4. Samsonite Dream Rider Deluxe (25L)
If you like Samsonite Dream Rider, wait till you see an upgraded version of it, the Dream Ride Deluxe elephant case, suitable for toddlers ages 3-8 years. A functional and aesthetic design is fully equipped with useful features for toddlers and parents while travelling or at home.
The ride-on Dream Rider Deluxe includes a removable shoulder strap, ribbons in the main compartment, and a top lid for easy access while travelling. The top of the case can also be used as a footrest while sitting.
There are also integrated footrest and elephant ear handles as well as a retractable pulling handle so you can pull your Dream Rider Deluxe like a suitcase. It has pivotal front wheels for an easy and fun ride and large sturdy back wheels for when you’re pulling it like a regular suitcase.
Pros & Cons of Samsonite Dream Rider Deluxe (25L)
| PROS | CONS |
| Removable shoulder strap | Upper opening makes it a bit inconvenient to pack |
| Pivotal front wheels + large sturdy back wheels | The seat is not padded |
| Integrated footrest | There is no lock |
| Child-friendly easy access with a top lid | |
| Wide age range |
5. Trunki Ride On (18L)
If you want choices, Trunki has got you covered with over 10 playful designs and even a “design-your-own” option. The Trunk Ride On suitcase will entertain your toddler in a boring queue as they can pretend to be riding a police car, a fire truck or many other things that Trunki looks like.
Though the capacity of the Trunki suitcase isn’t large (18L), the maximum ride-on weight reaches up to 50kg. Trunki Ride on suitcase is a lightweight, easy to clean suitcase designed to accommodate you and your toddler during your trip or as a bag for sleepovers and staycations.
Trunki suitcase has integrated steering horns for your toddler and easy to grab carry handles for you. Trunki Ride On also includes a tow strap with a key for security and internal pockets for easy access.
Pros & Cons of Trunki Ride On (18L) suitcase
| PROS | CONS |
| You can design your own Trunki | Only 18L volume capacity |
| Many different designs including a police car, an ambulance, and other fun themes | Too small for tall kids |
| Tow & Carry Strap included | |
| Fits in under the seat or overhead compartment |
Comparison table of 2023 best toddler travel suitcases’ specifications
| BedBox by JetKids | Flyte 15” Mini Scooter Suitcase | Samsonite Dream Rider | Samsonite Dream Rider Deluxe | Trunki Ride On | |
| Dimensions | 46 x 20 x 36 cm | 43 x 28 x 23 cm Handlebar height 65 cm | 37 x 51 x 22 cm | 40 x 55 x 20 cm | 46 x 20.5 x 31 cm |
| Volume Capacity | 20L | 21L | 28L | 25L | 18L |
| Item weight | 3.3kg | 3kg | 1.93kg | 2.999Kg | 1.7kg |
| Carry-on Cabin luggage | Yes | Yes | Yes (accepted by 32 airlines) | Yes (accepted by 44 airlines) | Yes |
| Ride-on age range (weight capacity including the contents, case, and rider) | 3 – 7 years (max 35 kg) | 2 – 4 years (max 20 kg) | 3 – 8 years (max 50 kg) | 3 – 8 years(max 50 kg) | 3 – 6 years (max 50kg) |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 5 years |
| Price (Euros) | 179 | 107 | 79 | 135 | 55 |
And the winner is…
Now you see what I meant about the inventions that you don’t even know about: scooter suitcases, cases that transform into beds, and other ride-ons. No matter which one you’ll pick, I’m sure your toddler will have fun riding it.
Whether it is a Flyte Mini Scooter suitcase that your toddler can fly through the airport, making it a much quicker journey for the whole family. Or if you’ll pick one of the ride-on options according to your own needs, for example, a certain volume capacity or your toddler’s desire to ride a tiger through a train station, in which case, one of the Samsonite suitcases will do.
I prioritise my little one’s sleep, so the winner for me is BedBox by JetKids. Though it has less volume capacity than other suitcases, Bedbox does wonders when it comes to my toddler’s and even my baby’s sleep quality while we’re on a plane or train.
I can’t wait for the excitement that your toddler will feel when they’ll ride their new suitcase for the first time. And the joy that you’ll have, not having to pull extra luggage.
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